Three Israeli Arabs Arrested: Charged with Espionage for Arab Lands

Officials announced today the arrest of three Israeli Arabs on charges of espionage for two Arab countries. Two of the Arabs were arrested on charges of spying for Jordan, and one on charges of espionage for Egypt.

According to the officials, one of the suspects, a resident of Beit Tzafafa, ordered a large number of pictures of the Army Independence Day parade in Jerusalem from a photographer’s shop. The shop reported the order to police, who arrested the Arab. During interrogation, the suspect said he had been asked by an Arab from Abu Gosh to buy the pictures for him. The Abu Gosh Arab was then arrested, and admitted spying for Jordan for some time.

The third Arab, a resident of Lydda, reportedly crossed the border into the Gaza Strip last week, and was ordered by Egyptian intelligence to buy copies of the Israeli army magazine and the new book on the Sinai campaign by Gen. Moshe Dayan. He was arrested after returning to Israel, near Ashkelon.